Global Blue allies with industry bodies to increase Chinese visitors to the UK

Global Blue Chief Executive Officer Jacques Stern addresses over 100 UK business leaders during a UK China Visitor Alliance event designed to focus on increasing the number of UK visas issued in China.

13 March, 2018

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London, 14 March 2018: Today the UK China Visitor Alliance (UKCVA) hosted over 100 business leaders from across the UK to announce the launch of the new Chinese Visitor Working Group in partnership with VisitBritain.

The UKCVA was founded in 2012 by Global Blue, New West End Company, London First, Walpole, the British luxury promoter, and McArthurGlen. Its objective was to work with the government to significantly grow the number of Chinese visitors to the UK. Since its inception, the number of UK visitor visas issued in China has soared by 152%.

Changing its name from UKCVA to the Chinese Visitor Working Group, this alliance will now expand its focus, examining new ways to increase Chinese demand to visit the UK as well as making it easier to visit through better connectivity.

Alongside the Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport together with other industry leaders and Jacques Stern, Chief Executive Officer of Global Blue, addressed the room to reinforce the importance of Chinese visitors to the UK’s retail and tourism industries and highlight how Tax Free Shopping can improve the attractiveness of the UK as a destination.

Shopping by Chinese visitors in the UK grew by 32% in 2017, building on a 26% rise in 2016. They spend an average of €1,590 when shopping in the UK and allocate 58% of their holiday budget to shopping.